Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Santiago City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Santiago City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $676 in Santiago City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,048 in Santiago City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,419 in Santiago City.

Living in Makati is roughly 76% more expensive than in Santiago City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Santiago City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$6.68 ₱411

-2.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$13.14 ₱809

242.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$3.56 ₱219

34.55%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$0.87 ₱53.8

239.08%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.77 ₱47.30

55.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.33 ₱20.36

75.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.04 ₱63.9

125.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$1.81 ₱111

96.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.62 ₱100

32.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.23 ₱75.5

16.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.82 ₱50.7

35.37%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.52 ₱93.4

53.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$2.50 ₱154

219.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.10 ₱191

45.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$5.34 ₱329

44.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.71 ₱167

67.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.02 ₱63.1

94.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$0.73 ₱45.14

272.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.42 ₱87.6

60.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$3.42 ₱211

0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$1.09 ₱67.3

156.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.75 ₱46.08

52.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.93 ₱57.4

6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.23 ₱138

34.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$7.95 ₱490

0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.03 ₱63.7

21.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.70 ₱104

31.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.26 ₱15.84

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.79 ₱48.47

-3.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.13 ₱8.07

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$3.50 ₱215

-1.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.15 ₱70.9

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$22.2K ₱1.4M

53.18%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$17.2K ₱1.1M

28.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$170 ₱10.4K

$75.8 ₱4,668

123.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.66 ₱1,703

$26.94 ₱1,659

2.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$22.95 ₱1,413

55.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$33.52 ₱2,063

63.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.51 ₱277

166.74%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$5.17 ₱318

58.61%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$324 ₱20.0K

$88.9 ₱5,471

264.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$4,283 ₱263.7K

79.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$41.93 ₱2,581

40.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$23.78 ₱1,464

50.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$53.1 ₱3,270

58.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$39.75 ₱2,447

210.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$268 ₱16.5K

145.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$173 ₱10.7K

125.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$592 ₱36.5K

283.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$397 ₱24.4K

153.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$2,518 ₱155.0K

138.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$867 ₱53.3K

330.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Santiago City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $268 in Santiago City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $13.00 in Santiago City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $158 per month, with Santiago City cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Makati vs Santiago City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago City wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santiago City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,783 in Makati and $1,014 in Santiago City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Makati versus $268 in Santiago City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $676 in Santiago City – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $676 in Santiago City versus $1,188 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santiago City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Santiago City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Santiago City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $676 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Santiago City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Santiago City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Santiago City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.